TRADITIONAL ANNIVERSARY GIFTS WITH A TWIST
PHOTOGRAPHY & TEXT BY Beverly Parisi, STYLING BY Angelina Parisi
The tradition of assigning a particular material – wood, paper, gold – to an anniversary milestone is thought to have originated in Germany, where 
couples gave each other progressively more valuable gifts as the years went on, symbolizing their commitment and good fortune. Flowers have jumped on the bandwagon too, with daisies for the fifth, daffodils for the 10th and lilies for the 30th.
These days, jewelry and gift companies – and of course florists – love the idea of designating rules for gift giving. Here are some suggestions that skirt the rules a bit, with imaginative interpretations of tradition.
filigree 22k gold diamond-cut BRACELET $4,995, EARRINGS $955, and NECKLACE $3,995 (50th anniversary) * Ruby & diamond swirl RING $3,699 (40th anniversary) * Blue sapphire SOLITAIRE crowned in diamonds $11,999 (45th anniversary) * Golden south sea pearl EARRINGS $699 
(30th anniversary) * Tahitian black pearl NECKLACE $3,999 and STUDS $599 (30th anniversary)
coralvineyard EARRINGS $695 (35th anniversary) * Cala lily sterling silver & rose enamel BANGLE with white sapphires $569 (25th anniversary) * Sterling silver & rose enamel NECKLACE $229 and EARRINGS $279 with white sapphires (25th anniversary), all at Sergio’s Jewelers, Ellicott City, sergiosjewelers.com.
Toleware SCONCE $24 each (10th anniversary) * Japanese floral DISH & paper BOX $18 (1st anniversary), all at Out of Our Past Antiques, Ellicott City, outofourpastantiques.com * yellow 
ROSES $6 per stem (50th anniversary) * yellow LILY $3 per stem (30th anniversary) * victoria elizabeth yellow VASE $30, all at Wilhide’s Unique Flowers & Gifts, Ellicott City, wilhides.com * Crystal biscuit JAR $48 (15th anniversary) * crystal DECANTER $68 (15th anniversary), both at at Out Of Our Past Antiques, Ellicott City, outofourpastantiques.com
Hand-painted wooden trinket BOX $10 (5th anniversary) * Wedgewood china Francis Scott Key MONUMENT $30 and washington MONUMENT $30 (20th anniversary) * STEREOSCOPE $65 (1st anniversary) * stereo CARDS $4 each, all at Out Of Our Past Antiques, Ellicott City, outofourpastantiques.com (1st anniversary). *
1 Paper
5 Wood
10 Tin
15 Crystal
20 China
25 Silver
30 Pearls
35 Coral
40 Ruby
45 Sapphire
50 Gold
